Lakeland coach Dennis Robinson
How many years have you been coaching with your school? Mike and Dennis Robinson have been coaching for 41 years at Lakeland.
How did the team do last season? Last year we were 17-2; lost in the first round of the Class A playoffs to Somers.
Who are your top returning players? James Kim, Sr. (P); Mike Nash, Sr. (P); Nick Mariani, Sr. (C; All-League); Matt Wright, Sr. (1B); Joe Dizon, Sr (CF); Corey Smith, Sr. (2B); Dan Phillips, Sr. (3B); Steve Pombo, Sr. (OF/P); Ray Bozek, Jr. (P/OF); Anthony Fava, Soph. (C); Andrew Martinez, Jr. (OF).
Who are the top players that you lost to graduation? Joe Arena (CW Post); David Judisky (Fordham); Jon de Marte (Richmond); Nick Caruso (Mercy).
What is your team’s biggest strength? Returning seniors and a talented rookie class.
What is your biggest concern entering the season? We will have a young but talented pitching staff.
Which team(s) is your biggest rival? Everyone.
Opening game: At home vs. Yorktown on Thursday, March 29 at 6:30 p.m.
Up next: Class-by-class preview on Monday
8 Comments
Very Surprised to see so many returning players for Lakeland. I dont see them being able to generate a lot of offense, and the pitching is a question mark. Two great coaches will have the team win games, however come playoff time its going to be an inexperienced squad. Who knows though. With the Robinsons, anything can happen.
Anyone have any info on the two pitchers? Both are going to have major shoes to fill after Demarte, Arena, and Caruso. Seems Lakeland has relied heavily on pitching the last couple years. Looking forward to a great season!
Such great coaches making de Marte throw 140 pitches and causing both de Marte and Arena to be injured for their summer seasons going into their senior year.
GREAT COACHES, I WAS PART OF THE PROIGRAM AND SEEING JOE AND JON PLAYED AND PITCH INTO OCTOBER EVERY YEAR . .. NINE PLAYERS HAVE SIGNED PRO CONTRACTS AND THERE ARE 13 PLAYING COLLEGE BALL THIS SEASON .. YES GREAT COAHES .OH! AND NINE OF THE 13 ARE PITCHERS , WHO MAKES A PLAYER GO INTO OCTOBER AND PITCH ???
The amount of innings thrown by Demarte in high school baseball were excessive any way you look at it and certainly contributed to him having the arm issues he has now. The high school coach needs to understand that these boys are going to be throwing in the Summer and Fall too as part of the recruiting process and not overuse them in the Spring. Add these guys to the long list of kids done in by high school coaches intent on winning at all costs.
Its a new season, let’s focus on that ! Lakeland will still be in the mix. They have talent coming up to varsity and a good mix of returning seniors.
pitchers, media guide shows he does not have the most innings for lakeland, in a season.lakeland went to the state final 4 that year.
Lets not focus on the past. DeMarte, Arena and Judisky are all time Lakeland greats, but they are gone and a new era with new talent has begun. Let’s focus on them…